Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Thomas Family Scholarships. You can read more about the Thomas Family Scholarship here.
Isabelle Grise
Birthplace: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Favourite memory growing up: Fostering dogs with my family.
Position played: Centres, Fly Half
First year playing rugby: Summer 2018
Favourite Coach: Kait Pasic and Jocelyn Poirier
Most influential people in life: My three siblings
Favourite rugby memory: Winning Tropical Seven’s with Team Ontario in Orlando, Florida.
Worst rugby memory: Laying down after scoring a try and hyperextending my elbow with no one around in the first game of a tournament.
Favourite movie: Finding Nemo
Favourite musician: Sam Smith
Favourite book: Neversuch House
Career Plans: Obtain a bilingual bachelors in International Management at the University of Ottawa in order to travel and work for different NGO’s around the world.
Rugby goals in next two years: Improve on my overall skills and speed with the University of Ottawa Women’s Rugby team, and eventually gain playing time.
Favourite other hobbies: sports (especially aquafit), baking/cooking, having dance parties with my sisters, organizing my lists, arts and crafts
Marlowe Kemp
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario
(Hometown: Oshawa, Ontario
Favourite memory growing up: Trying as many new things as possible.
Position played: Winger
First year playing rugby: I first played Rugby 7s in the 10th Grade for my high school and instantly fell in love with the sport (2017)
Favourite Coach: Christopher Conway (High School Coach, Eastdale CVI)
He introduced me to the sport and helped me grow in so many ways, both as a person and an athlete.
Most influential people in life: My mom is my biggest role model.
Favourite rugby memory: Scoring my first try in my first game!
Worst rugby memory: Injuring my knee and not being able to finish the season in Grade 11 (2018)
Favourite movie: 13 Going On 30
Favourite musician: Lennon Stella
Favourite book: The Hate U Give
Career Plans: Currently studying Emergency Services Fundamentals at Durham College to become a Paramedic.
Rugby goals in next two years: To strengthen my skills and play for the Durham Lords Women’s Rugby 7s team.
Favourite other hobbies: I have a passion for musical theatre and acting.
Ryan Matthews
Birthplace: Burlington Ontario
Favourite memory growing up: I’ve always been lucky to have made some great memories through sport and getting the opportunity to play alongside my best friends. Cannot pick one in particular, just the overall experience of sport has left me with great memories.
Position played: Scrum-half
First year playing rugby: 2014, grade 9
Favourite Coach: Dan Pletch
Most influential people in life: Mom and Dad
Favourite rugby memory: First varsity cap for McMaster vs. RMC and first senior men’s first cap for Burlington vs. Stoney Creek
Worst rugby memory: Losing to Laurier against my younger brother
Favourite movie: Green Book
Favourite musician: The Tragically Hop
Favourite book: James Kerr, Legacy: What the All Blacks can teach us about the business of life
Career Plans: Police Officer
Rugby goals in next two years: continue to volunteer coaching with the Burlington Centaurs junior program and start for the senior men’s first team
Favourite other hobbies: Hockey, golf, camping
Sierra Stewart
Birthplace:
Lacombe, Alberta
Favourite memory growing up:
I don’t have a specific memory, but just growing up with my siblings and going on trips with family.
Position played:
Back row and centre
First year playing rugby:
Grade 10 of high school
Favourite Coach:
Erika Green
Most influential people in life:
My family, especially my Dad.
Favourite rugby memory:
Getting to travel with my team to places like Vancouver to compete and watch HSBC Canada sevens!
Worst rugby memory:
Tearing my ACL in my knee, which caused me to not play for over a year as I had to get surgery.
Favourite movie:
Favourite TV show is Stranger Things.
Favourite musician:
Too hard to pick! I don’t have a favourite.
Favourite book:
I honestly don’t like reading and only read when I have to for school.
Career Plans:
I’m currently taking my Bachelors of Kinesiology to hopefully use towards my Masters in Physical Therapy.
Rugby goals in next two years:
I recently have just been cleared to return to rugby after my surgery, so I plan to get comfortable with playing again, then hopefully play for a varsity team. Before I injured my knee, it was my goal to play rugby while going to school.
Favourite other hobbies:
I love anything outdoors like camping and hiking!
Hunter Twigg
Birthplace: Chatham, Ontario
Favourite memory growing up: Going on vacation with my family
Position played: Scrum Half and 10-Fly Half
First year playing rugby: Grade 9
Favourite Coach: Scott Morkin and Jeff Phaneuf
Most influential people in life: My parents
Favourite rugby memory: Scoring my first try
Worst rugby memory: There wasn’t a worst rugby memory
Favourite movie: I Still Believe
Favourite musician: Luke Bryan and Luke Combs
Favourite book: Fault in Our Stars
Career Plans: Police Officer
Rugby goals in next two years: Playing for a club team after college
Favourite other hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, riding my seadoos and playing other sports like hockey, volleyball, golf, etc.
